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Schools and the Socratic Method
Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 9:22 pm
by Incubateus
Does anyone know if there are any schools that stand out as purely socratic. I know most law schools have at least a some what socratic method, and I know that it usually changes from professor to professor. Beyond the obvious difficulties in answering this question, are there any schools that are notorious for using the socratic method to an annoying extent?
For example, I spoke with a Cooley grad (save the Cooley jokes) about his one class and he said that even when they asked the professor real, need-to-know questions, the professor would respond with a question. That is the type of teaching I hope to avoid in picking a law school.
So any thoughts? stories?
Re: Schools and the Socratic Method
Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 10:12 pm
by Incubateus
bump
Re: Schools and the Socratic Method
Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 10:15 pm
by tarp
I doubt this is going to be easy to delineate based on school. Each professor has his own style. Of course, the Cooley example you gave is ridiculous. That professor needed to be smacked down by administration.
Re: Schools and the Socratic Method
Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 10:15 pm
by WSJ_Law
don't go to law school. hth
Re: Schools and the Socratic Method
Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 10:28 pm
by kalvano
Baylor.
But I never had even one professor here at SMU during my first year do a real, traditional Socratic-style questioning.
Re: Schools and the Socratic Method
Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 10:35 pm
by msblaw89
Chicago
Re: Schools and the Socratic Method
Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 10:37 pm
by Incubateus
I can imagine Baylor for sure, but Chicago? To an annoying extent?
Re: Schools and the Socratic Method
Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 10:39 pm
by IAFG
Incubateus wrote:I can imagine Baylor for sure, but Chicago? To an annoying extent?
lolwhat. UChi should not surprise you at all. They do a lot of things "to an annoying extent."
Re: Schools and the Socratic Method
Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 10:44 pm
by msblaw89
On their website and in the vbook .. all they do is talk about how they emphasize the socratic method. But I do have a friend who is a 1L, and she says that the professors don't try to embarrass you.
Re: Schools and the Socratic Method
Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 9:59 pm
by 89vision
According to the pre law Prof at my school, almost all law schools use the Socratic method.
Re: Schools and the Socratic Method
Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 10:04 pm
by johansantana21
Doesn't matter, it depends on professor, not school.
Re: Schools and the Socratic Method
Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 10:22 pm
by 071816
Why do you care about the socratic method so much? U scared?
Re: Schools and the Socratic Method
Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 11:36 pm
by AlexanderSupertramp
johansantana21 wrote:Doesn't matter, it depends on professor, not school.
Yeah, my Contracts professor is extrememly Socratic. Torts is pretty socratic. Property and Civ Pro not at all. I feel like I get what I need out of each one after I leave class but I am definitely put more work into preparing for Contracts and Torts.
Re: Schools and the Socratic Method
Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 11:59 pm
by IAFG
chimp wrote:Why do you care about the socratic method so much? U scared?
Sounds like OP is sorta being a little bitch about socratic method. I'm just concerned for him.